Posted on 01/29/2006 8:14:03 AM PST by Carl/NewsMax
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Sunday that Democrats who took money from Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff and who did something on behalf of those tribes have "a big problem."
Dean made the statement apparently unaware that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has reportedly done exactly that.
Under questioning by "Fox News Sunday's" Chris Wallace, Dean claimed that Democrats did no favors for Abramoff's Indian tribe clients:
"Nobody got anything out of the Democrats from Jack Abramoff," the top Democrat insisted. "No Democrat delivered anything and there's no accusation and no investigation that any Democrat ever delivered anything to Jack Abramoff. And that's not true of the Republicans."
But Wallace countered: "So if we find that there were some Democrats who wrote letters on behalf of some of the Indian tribes that Abramoff represented, then what do you say, sir?"
Dean's response: "That's a big problem. And those Democrats are in trouble. And they should be in trouble."
In November 2005 the Associated Press reported that Senate Minority Leader Reid had accepted tens of thousands of dollars from an Abramoff client, the Coushatta Indian tribe, after interceding with Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton over a casino dispute with a rival tribe.
Reid "sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002," the AP said. "The next day, the Coushattas issued a $5,000 check to Reid's tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund. A second tribe represented by Abramoff sent an additional $5,000 to Reid's group. Reid ultimately received more than $66,000 in Abramoff-related donations between 2001 and 2004."
Questioned about the donations in December by "Fox News Sunday's" Wallace, Reid immediately turned testy.
"Don't try to say I received money from Abramoff. I've never met the man, don't know anything," he claimed.
The full exchange between Dean and Wallace went like this:
DEAN: It is possible that some of Jack Abramoff's clients may have decided on their own to give Democrats some money. The key is . . .
WALLACE: I'm sorry. Did you say that you're sure that Abramoff didn't direct them to give that money?
DEAN: No, what I said was that it is possible that some Democrats got money from someone he [represented]. What I'm saying is that Abramoff may not have directed some of this money to Democrats.
WALLACE: In fact, he did. We have evidence of that.
DEAN: But the point is not one Democrat either knew it or acted on it. Nobody got anything out of the Democrats from Jack Abramoff. No Democrat delivered anything and there's no accusation and no investigation that any Democrat ever delivered anything to Jack Abramoff. And that's not true of the Republicans.
WALLACE: So if we find - and we have to wrap this up - so if we find that there were some Democrats who wrote letters on behalf of some of the Indian tribes that Abramoff represented, then what do you say, sir?
DEAN: That's a big problem. And those Democrats are in trouble. And they should be in trouble. [END EXCERPT]
ROTFLMAO. Open mouth, insert foot once again. YEEEEEHAAAAAAW.
Dean will reverse himself ASAP.
Hey Dean! Sort of blows your rant of "NOT ONE RED DIME WENT TO DEMOCRATS," all to hell.
Then he'll run for President, if we're lucky.
One of the many reasons the democratic party is imploding: Howard Dean's BIG mouth! Go Howard!!!
Karl Rove's bestest strategery to oust the Dimbulbs!
Crazy Howard should have stayed off the show, but he couldn't help himself.
told you dean is the best player on our team.
"Hey Dean! Sort of blows your rant of "NOT ONE RED DIME WENT TO DEMOCRATS," all to hell."
leave it to Dean to say "RED" dime while talking about an Indian lobbyist...lol. Was that a racist slur?
Hillary would be crazy not to enlist Deano as her campaign manager...the guy is a genius </sarcasm>
But about 40 percent of the voters, died in the wool Democrats, Dean is a huge hero.
In many respects Dean is like McGovern in 1971. McGovern scared the heck out of about 60 percent of the voters, but he was a huge hero to about 38 percent of those on the left.
Dean got the job of heading the DNC because State Democratic party officials love him and think he is wonderful for the Democratic party. The Clintons who knew what a disaster he would be, did not have the votes to stop him.
There have been at least two party appearances by Hillary Clinton in the past few weeks where she was heckled and booed by leftist Democrats.
The Democratic party is splitting apart and it is very likely that the far left part will select the 2008 presidential nominee. It may not be Dean but it will be someone who is just as outspoken and who shares his views.
Maybe this is why Wallace told Dean he was welcome to the show anytime. This was the end of the segment and I could swear I saw a sly smile cross Chris' face.
Best catch of the "Mean Dean Season". Dean cannot be long for this DNC position.
From your lips (keyboard?) to 38% of the populace's ears.
The dems attempts to make political hay of this matter will backfire as the saying "me thinks thou does protest too much" comes to mind.
Before all is done the public may very well think this is a dem problem only.
Please let this loud mouthed cretin appear more often.
Again, facts mean nothing to these people. Anyone still want these loons in our government. One of the things that makes me mad is they have loads of staff that are suppose to be checking these things out. And I am sure the staffs are being paid for compliments of the taxpayer. Grrrrrrrrr
Ouch, that's gotta sting.
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